County aces in finals cracker

BARRIE SOWERBY

BOWLS:

A CLASH between three-times champion Steve Copeland and last year’s runner-up Darren Griffiths will kick off finals night in the Oldham Evening Chronicle Bowling Handicap.

The draw for the finals at North Chadderton Social and Bowling Club on Saturday, July 10, was made yesterday and the two Greater Manchester colleagues were first out of the hat.

Second on will be Garry Coverdale, who has home advantage against Andrew Buckley, but must concede one start.

Alan Hodson, the champion two years ago, takes on Lee Schofield and, like John Ashton - who faces Barrie Sowerby (Church) - both are penalised two chalks as North Chadderton members.

The draw, with handicaps, is:

S Copeland, 2 (Springbank) v D Griffiths, 1 (Nimble Nook); G Coverdale, 1 (North Chadderton) v A Buckley, 2 (Nimble Nook); A Hodson, scr (Springbank) v L Schofield, 1 (North Chadderton); B Sowerby, 2 (Church Inn) v J Ashton, 1 (North Chadderton).




GREATER Manchester lost 425-332 to Yorkshire in the Junior County Championship.



Nick Turrell won the home player of the match award win for his 21-20 success at Hopwood Unionist Club, where Jonathan Copeland (21-10) and Daniel Warrington (21-3) were also successful.

Manchester had four winners at Kirkheaton - player of the match Ryan Bancroft (21-3), James Jones (21-12), Matthew Sands (21-16) and Ben Gloag 21-19.




SWINTON’S David Walker will represent Greater Manchester in the British Crown Green Veterans’ Merit after defeating Tottington’s John Birtwistle 21-9 in the final of the county competition.

CLOSING date for entries into the Oldham Veterans’ Indoor League is Friday, June 25.



Any team withdrawing from the league is asked to inform Christine Griffiths (0161 624 5915) as soon as possible.

The women’s section, which has matches on Mondays (7pm-8.30pm) is a team short and anyone interested should contact Christine.




GARETH Gwilliam (Hyde) beat Steve Halliwell 21-5 to reach the finals of the Royle Classic in Rochdale.



Other scores:

First round: Lee Lawton 10, Halliwell 21; Peter Fielding 21, Kevin Atkinson 11; Matt Hargreaves 15, Ian Holden 21; Gwilliam 21, Colin Lane 10.

Second round: Halliwell 21, Fielding 20; Holden 14, Gwilliam 21.